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Being programmed

I'm bouncing between programs tonight - the SNL special, the "30 for 30" documentary on Allen Iverson, the end of the Caps game.

I check on the Orioles and see David Hernandez give up two runs in the first inning. I turn back later and see Cesar Izturis ground out to strand two runners. I flip back again and see Oakland add a run in the second inning and still have the bases loaded.

Hernandez did a terrific job controlling the damage in the second. The game could have totally gotten out of hand, but he only surrendered that one run.

I suppose that should make us feel better.

The Orioles still can't get a break. The Athletics are making the plays defensively, or the Orioles are hitting the ball in the wrong spots. Miguel Tejada smoked one with Adam Jones on second base and it found Kevin Kousmanoff's glove.

Of course it did.

And now I've seen Adam Jones miss the cutoff man in the fourth, allowing the runner to take third base with no outs. You can't blame luck. It's like Felix Pie's baserunning mistake and the pop up that nobody caught. Choose your favorite blunder.

Josh Bell went 0-for-4 at Triple-A Norfolk and is batting .214. Brandon Snyder went 1-for-4 and is batting .207.

That won't make anyone feel better.

Reliever Dennis Sarfate is understandably upset about straining his oblique and going on the disabled list. The injury occurred while he was warming up in the eighth inning yesterday, and while he's been very effective for the Tides. The timing is pretty rotten.

Sarfate's velocity is up, but he's got to sit down for a while.

Ryan Adams went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs for Double-A Bowie, raising his average to .333 this season.

Ryan is trying to put 2009 behind him. He dealt with a couple of injuries at Single-A Frederick and was placed on the suspended list for disciplinary reasons and sent home to Louisiana with about two weeks left in the season.

The Orioles brought Adams to the major league camp for a few days when they needed an extra infielder, so there must not be any hard feelings.